LIVING LIFE

Today would have been my mother’s 93rd birthday. One of her special gifts was her uncanny ability to assess situations objectively and to give advice and perspective to those around her. Her words reflected honesty, tempered with kindness. I am dedicating this post to her by sharing a few of the many things she shared with me throughout her life.

When I was young: Good things come in small packages. It is not the size of the package that matters, it is what is inside.

When my daughter was young: If your child is old enough and you need a two-minute break, tell your child that you need to go to the bathroom, even if you don’t have to go. Whenever you are certain that you know what your child will do, they will change and surprise you. Anyone who is nice to my family is a friend of mine (conversely, anyone who is not nice to my family is no friend of mine).

When I was divorced: You can stay alone – then no one will hurt you again, or you can take a chance and go out there and find happiness. People can live alone, but they are not meant to live alone.

Several weeks before she died: If you are on the wrong train, get off the train. If you want to be adventurous, take a different train. People will die – life is for the living.

Whenever my daughter and I have to deal with difficult situations, we often ask the question, “What would Mar Mar say?” We usually find the answer because we carry her legacy of resilience and strength within us – along with a few of her favorite four-letter words.

The information written on this blog is for informational purposes only and does not endorse, or permit any actions taken by any individuals as a result of reading this information, including any and all comments received on this blog. I don’t encourage any actions to be taken based on the information on this site.